Ubuntu Workbench is a proposed add-on to the basic Ubuntu desktop to provide extensive features. Workbench's primary goal is providing a grid layout for items and objects on the desktop in a very simple manner while allowing for user-defined, large icons. This is achieved using nested HTML-like tables, which provide a flexible and stable platform upon which the rest of Workbench is built. These tables hold rows and columns of panels, each of which can hold icons or other objects. The largest Panel will determine the height or width of other panels in the same row or column.
Nested tables can provide for grid-ordering within super panels formed by large icons, both vertically and horizontally.
The number of panels in a row or column is determined by placement by the user. While dragging an object, it automatically snaps in intervals, and additional rows or columns may be created by dragging the object to a new row/column.
Additionally, one may omit a nested table, and icon ordering will default back to Ubuntu's vertical grid.
Panels in workbench are highly flexible, and can even have windows docked in them.
This is particularly useful for programmers, 3d artists, music editors, or anyone who uses a suite or set of applications. A programmer may have a terminal window along with several file browsing windows docked, or an ordinary user may have a music folder docked along with instant messages.
Workbench does not by default show the borders of the tables and panels; part of Workbench's power comes from its Tab-editing.
Holding tab will raise the borders surrounding panels and tables, allowing the borders to be manually resized and stretched, or snapped back to the object(s) inside of the panel. Additionally, right-clicking a panel in this mode will reveal a context menu that allows the user to add additional buttons to the panel, such as a collapse button that will collapse or expand the specified row or column to allow more desktop space while particular strings of panels aren't needed. Dragging files while holding tab will bypass the default behavior of arranging by grid, and allows the user to put multiple items in one panel. Workbench has default behaviors that may be edited, such as adding a new panel for new icons, or putting new icons into a specific panel. Workbench stores its layout in the user's home directory under the file Workbench.xml. This file is an editable XML script that can be edited and configured by power users to tweak the layout to their desire.
Please note that the pictures above are only to provide a basic understanding of the idea; they do not show the buttons or functionality mentioned.
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